Stupid Encounters...

Stupid encounters one could only have in Hong Kong:

a) someone telling me that it is bad for one's health to put your body on cement during hot weather. This seems to be a no-brainer. There are germs and a large number of spitting happy elderly here. (A kid was doing this) BUT NO. The DANGER is that a body will HEAT UP.

I could not even begin to discuss this. Language challenge. Cultural barrier. Clear lack of understanding of basic science.

b)someone telling me that the change of weather causes COLDS. COME ON PEOPLE. DID ANYONE STUDY HIGH SCHOOL BIOLOGY? For god's sakes--there are ALLERGIES. My father (okay, he's an allergist/immunologist, that does give one more household knowledge as his kid...but still) was just JOKING about how people used to think they got YEARLY SEASONAL COLDS that lasted for 4 months. THIS IS CALLED SEASONAL ALLERGIES. THEY ARE ON THE INCREASE DUE TO POLLUTION AND OTHER ASPECTS OF industrialization. If I HEAR ONE MORE IDIOT tell me that they have a COLD BECAUSE OF WEATHER CHANGE I will have NO CHOICE but to point them to the nearest high school biology classroom.

c) pollution is caused by CHINA. This is what people say from Korea to Indonesia to anywhere in Asia. Guess WHAT. Pollution is CAUSED BY YOU. BY ALL OF US. STOP BUYING STUFF. That's right. Roadside pollution, bad local laws about deliveries and access for diesel trucks and YOUR OWN CONSUMPTION OF TOO MANY GOODS. Quit shopping, and along with that--support clean air laws.

d)people dismantling structures with asbestos by hand in front of our house. This is so stupid, I can't even begin to discuss it. The stupid response I have--not to open the window on that side of the house. As if that will protect me from the asbestos particles floating around my village...hahaha.